Introduction to the Urban & Community Forestry Program

What is an urban forest?
An urban forest is any tree where people work, live, or play.

An urban forest may include:

• Individual trees along a street or in a parking lot.
• All trees within a yard or on a campus.
• Scattered trees within a park or other developed property

Why do urban forests matter?
Trees and urban forests matter because they impact the environment around them, improving air and water quality and aesthetics.

Urban trees help...

• moderate temperature extremes
• reduce wind speed
• reduce water erosion
• filter pollutants from air, water and soil
• provide visual and sound screens
• soften the harsh concrete, glass and steel cityscapes
• increase property values

What does the Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program do?

The U&CF Program supports urban forestry in North Carolina by...

• Administering a cost-share federal grant program for municipalities, local governments, non-profits, educational groups and schools
• Providing technical and/or educational assistance regarding:
  • community forest inventories and management plans
  • community and county tree ordinances
  • grant project applications and implementation
  • Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA and Tree Line USA designations
  • proper tree selection, installation, care and maintenance
  • educational information
  • coordination and operation of training workshops
  • NC Arbor Day promotion
• Technical assistance with and through the county forest rangers in all NC counties.

Who does the Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program assist?

Both directly and through county forest rangers, the program assists...

• communities of any size, including Home Owner's Associations
• individuals with questions or concerns about their trees
• professional associations
• civic and volunteer organizations
• state agencies
• regional organizations
• educational institutions
• businesses.